YALE FOOTBALL: Warrior-Scholar Project sees Bulldogs take on, team up with veterans

Chris Hunn, Register Staff

Published
12:00 am EDT, Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple (19) rushes with the ball ahead of Yale defensive end Beau Palin (40) during the second half of their NCAA college football game in Cambridge, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) less

Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple (19) rushes with the ball ahead of Yale defensive end Beau Palin (40) during the second half of their NCAA college football game in Cambridge, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. ... more

Photo: AP

Photo: AP

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple (19) rushes with the ball ahead of Yale defensive end Beau Palin (40) during the second half of their NCAA college football game in Cambridge, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) less

Harvard quarterback Colton Chapple (19) rushes with the ball ahead of Yale defensive end Beau Palin (40) during the second half of their NCAA college football game in Cambridge, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012. ... more

Photo: AP

YALE FOOTBALL: Warrior-Scholar Project sees Bulldogs take on, team up with veterans

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

WEST HAVEN -- Yale wide receiver Chris Smith caught a couple of touchdowns and Collin Bibb connected with Beau Palin in the left corner of the end zone. The Bulldogs defense came up with some interceptions and fourth-down stops.

As part of the Warrior-Scholar Project, members of the Yale football team took on a team of veterans in a pickup game early Wednesday morning at Clint Frank Field.

"I'd say we won," Yale wide receiver Matt Rubino said. "It was close though. A lot of interceptions on both sides."

But for Rubino, his teammates, the veterans, and everyone there for that matter, it wasn't really about football.

It was much more than that.

"They give so much for our country," Rubino said. "And it's nice to get to know these guys and put some faces to some heroes."

It gave the players an opportunity to give back. The Bulldogs and veterans exchanged laughs, smiles and the occasional smack-talking. And for the 24 veterans, Wednesday morning was a nice break from the 14-hour academic grind they endured over the previous three days.

The veterans are in New Haven for the second Warrior Scholar-Project, an intensive two-week workshop which is designed to help with the combat-to-college transition. The project is part of Operation Opportunity, an organization started by former Yale player Jesse Reising.

The veterans take part in seminars and discussions led by Yale professors, and are challenged just as Yale students would be. They receive help with their writing skills. And Australian army veteran Chris Howell, along with Yale psychologists, help with the social transition.

"It's really important to us to come out and do a course like this, to be able to read and write at a college level because we're going back into school after serving multiple years in the armed forces," said Aaron Greenberg, who served in the Air Force.

"It's definitely different," said Alexandria Del'Romero-Hughes, who served five years in the Marine Corps. "It keeps you so open-minded because in the military, especially in the corps, you're taught one way of thinking and doing things."

Football has played a significant role in the program. In addition to the game, the players tutor and raise money. Palin, the Bulldogs' captain and assistant director of the project, says they are looking to expand. He says the project could grow to more colleges, and add math and science.

Members of the project have kept in touch with last year's participants, checking in and editing assignments throughout the year.

Palin even had a success story to share.

Last year, a veteran had plans to go to a community college and get a two-year degree. He never thought he would go to a four-year school. He attended the Warrior-Scholar Project and went on to get a full scholarship to Vassar College in New York.

Palin hopes he'll be the first of many.

"It's essential to give back to people that have done so much for us," Palin said. "The veterans have done that. Serve those who are serving for us."